Five-star hotel on track to open doors in 2019, with support from Lucas Lee

A luxury five-star hotel in Ripon is on track to open its doors in Spring 2019 two years ahead of schedule on the back of consultancy support from Lucas Lee.

By Amy Byram

Aug 09 2018 12:00AM

"Lucas Lee's passion, expertise and integrity have shone through throughout, enabling us to deliver the scheme to the very highest standards."Richard Sykes

A luxury five-star hotel in Ripon is on track to open its doors in Spring 2019 — two years ahead of schedule — on the back of consultancy support from Lucas Lee, the Yorkshire-based firm of Chartered Building Surveyors, Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors.

Grantley Hall, a grade II*-listed building, is currently being renovated and refurbished by Grantley Hall Ltd. The project will create a hotel, a wellness facility, a range of dining experiences and a spacious wedding and event suite.

Following acquisition advice in 2015, it was initially thought that a traditional procurement route could have taken the project five years to be completed. But specialist management from Lucas Lee has brought the completion forward to spring 2019 — just in time for the booked-up wedding season.

Using knowledge formed by working on similar previous projects — including grade II listed Clumber Park Hotel in Nottinghamshire and projects for hospitality market leaders, Mitchells & Butlers — Lucas Lee were able to create crucial time-saving efficiencies with a bespoke procurement strategy.

By appointing Yorkshire architects Bowman Riley and two contractors - R N Woolers and The HACS Group - Lucas Lee brought each company onto the design team, involving and consulting all parties at each stage of the design and build phase.

Commenting on why Lucas Lee was appointed, Richard Sykes, Managing Director at Grantley Hall said: “Our project brings together a range of suppliers and contractors who we believe are the best at what they do, and Lucas Lee is no exception.

“Their passion, expertise and integrity have shone through throughout, enabling us to deliver the scheme to the very highest standards.”

Six of Lucas Lee’s team members are currently working on the project. As well as assembling the Design Team, the firm is also acting as Contract Administrators, Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors.

Christopher Lee, of Lucas Lee, said: “We were delighted to be appointed to this project back in 2016. With the vision of being the best luxury hotel in the North of England, and aiming to attract visitors from across the globe, it’s an honour to work on such a prestigious and complex scheme.

“Our previous experience of the industry provided us with insights which allowed us to shave two years from the expected completion date. This was a crucial aspect of the contract, saving Grantley Hall Ltd additional construction costs and allowing the business to generate income well ahead of schedule.

“The hotel industry is one in which our team excel, and we think it stands us in good stead for winning similar projects in the future.”

Lucas Lee has offices in both Leeds and Huddersfield and works on contracts nationwide.